Accenture plc (ACN) Posts 2Q Profit

Accenture plc (ACN) reported second quarter EPS of $1.08 before the opening bell Thursday, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.07. Revenues increased 5.1% from last year to $7.49 billion. Analysts expected revenues of $7.36 billion. The stock is currently up $2.34 to $90.55.

For the current quarter ending in May, the consulting company guided revenues of $7.35 – $7.60 billion, as compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.61 billion.

Pierre Nanterme, Accenture’s chairman and CEO, said, “We are extremely pleased with our very strong financial results for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2015. Our revenue growth of 12 percent in the second quarter was again broad-based across the different dimensions of our business, and we gained significant market share. We delivered excellent new bookings of $9.4 billion, demonstrating that our services continue to be highly relevant to our clients. Based on our continued momentum and very strong performance in the first half, we are raising our business outlook for revenues for the full fiscal year.”

For fiscal 2015, Accenture raised its net rev outlook growth in local currency in the range of 8% – 10%, compared with 5% – 8% previously. Adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $4.66 – $4.76 per share vs. the previously guided range of $4.66 – $4.80.

On valuation measures, Accenture plc Cl A shares, which currently have an average 3-month trading volume of 2.41 million shares, trade at a trailing-12 P/E of 18.92, a forward P/E of 17.03 and a P/E to growth ratio of 1.91. The median Wall Street price target on the name is $92.00 with a high target of $100.00. Currently ticker boasts 9 ‘Buy’ endorsements, compared to 16 ’Holds’ and no ‘Sell’.

Profitability-wise, ACN has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 9.89% and 14.40%, respectively. The $55.41 billion market cap company reported $4.06 billion in cash in its most recent quarter.

ACN currently prints a one year return of 8.34% and a year-to-date loss of around 1.25%.

The chart below shows where the equity has traded over the last 52 weeks.

Accenture PLC is a Dublin, Ireland-based company which focuses on providing management consulting and business process outsourcing services worldwide.